# Kerala Premier League

The Kerala Premier League is the highest state-level football league organized by the Kerala Football Association and played in the state of Kerala, India. It is the overall fifth tier of the Indian football league system. For sponsorship reasons it is officially known as the Elite Kerala Premier League. Founded in 1998, the Kerala Football League was the first football league in Kerala, and got rebranded in 2013 as the KPL. Kerala United is the current champion.

## History
### Kerala Football League

After the introduction of the National Football League by the All India Football Federation, the Kerala Football Association started its Kerala Football League (KFL) in 1998. The team finishing top was nominated to 2nd division of the National Football League.

### 1998 season

FC Kochin was crowned the inaugural champion. SBT finished in second place.

### 1999 season

The second edition of Kerala Football League was held in Kochi and Kollam in December 1999. FC Kochin retained the tille, and SBT FC become the runners up.

### 2007 season

SBT FC won the title, and Central Excise Kochi become the runners up.

## Format

The league features teams from the state of Kerala affiliated with the KFA. The top four teams from each group qualify for the final round. A women's league started in the 2014–15 season with 8 teams.

## Sponsorship

* 2013–15, 2018–21: Ramco
* 2015–16: Dentcare Dental Lab
* 2016–17: Cochin Shipyard
* 2017–18: ICL Fincorp
* 2022–: Scoreline

## Team statistics

| Team | Winners | Runners-up |
| SBI Kerala | 6 | 5 |
| Gokulam Kerala FC | 2 | 3 |
| KSEB FC | 2 | 2 |
| Real Malabar FC | 0 | 0 |
| Kerala United FC | 2 | 0 |
| BASCO FC | 0 | 0 |
| Parappur FC | 0 | 0 |
| Kerala Blasters B | 1 | 0 |
| Luca Soccer Club | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Threads | 1 | 0 |
| SAT | 0 | 1 |
| Kovalam FC | 0 | 0 |
| Kerala Police | 0 | 1 |
| FC Areekode | 0 | 1 |
| Muthoot FA | 0 | 0 |
| Shooters United Pande | 0 | 0 |
| FC Kerala | 0 | 0 |

## Championship summary

| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
| Kerala Football League |||
| 1998–99 | FC Kochin | SBT |
| 1999–2000 | FC Kochin (2) | SBT |
| 2000–01 | SBT | Trivandrum Titanium FC |
| 2001–02 | League cancelled | League cancelled |
| 2002–03 | League cancelled | League cancelled |
| 2003–04 | SBT (2) | FC Kochin |
| 2004–05 | KSEB | SBT |
| 2005–06 | Viva Kerala FC | SBT |
| 2006–07 | SBT (3) | Central Excise Club |
| 2007–08 | SBT (4) | Trivandrum Titanium FC |
| 2009–2013 | League not held | League not held |
| Kerala Premier League |||
| 2013–14 | Eagles | SBT |
| 2014–15 | SBT (5) | Kerala Police FC |
| 2015–16 | SBT (6) | Central Excise Club |
| 2016–17 | KSEB (2) | FC Thrissur |
| 2017–18 | Gokulam Kerala | Kerala United |
| 2018–19 | Indian Navy FC | Gokulam Kerala |
| 2019–20 | Kerala Blasters B | Gokulam Kerala |
| 2020–21 | Gokulam Kerala (2) | KSEB |
| 2021–22 | Golden Threads | KSEB |
| 2022–23 | Kerala United | Gokulam Kerala |
| 2023–24 | Kerala United (2) | SAT |

## Top scorers

| Season | Top scorer | Team | Goals |
| 2015–16 | Askar | Central Excise Cochin | 6 |
| 2016–17 | Firos Kalathingal | Kerala Police | 7 |
| 2017–18 | Emmanuel Aidoo | Quartz FC | 12 |
| 2018–19 | Vishnu Harry Moris Bipaka Thapa Christian Sabah | Shooters United Padne FC Kerala Indian Navy (football club) Gokulam Kerala FC | 6 |
| 2019–20 | Isahak Nuhu Seidu Kamara E. | Golden Threads FC SAT | 8 |
| 2020–21 | Saliou Guindo | Gokulam Kerala FC | 8 |
| 2021–22 | Isahak Nuhu Seidu | Golden Threads FC | 12 |
| 2022–23 | Samuel Mensa Konney | Gokulam Kerala FC | 10 |
| 2023–24 | Salahudheen Adnan | Muthoot Football Academy | 11 |

## Media coverage

Scoreline Sports (through its YouTube channel) are the current official streaming partners of the Kerala Premier League.